Repairing damage to the frames

Repairs and restorations

With the passage of time, simple wear and small accidents can cause damage to frames, damaging both appearance and strength. In these cases it is good to take prompt action to repair the frames or to perform a real restoration.

The parts that usually need intervention are the joints which are unstable or that are even low-cut, but also the bars of the frame may have several shortcomings.

Of course we will proceed to repair and restore only on the frames of a certain value or beauty or otherwise of structures with damage of contained entity, otherwise it is better to replace them radically by building new ones, in order to be assured of the maximum strength of the structure. In the case of gilded frames and chipped plaster moldings you will need to rebuild some parts with wood pulp or plasticine.

Repair the joints

To stabilize a joint that is not stable, it is useful to distance a little sides and insert in its interior, with a brush or with the nozzle of the dispenser, some glue.

Then bring the two sides in contact, clean the glue that overflows and apply a reinforcing element on the back.

This may be constituted by a metal bracket screwed or by a triangle of plywood nailed or, again, from a few staples placed with the stapler.
Of course you can always add some nail, or if the frame is very thick, drill a hole and insert a plug of wood, glued. The procedure may be, in this way, completely invisible.

Different damage

If the frame is variously damaged you must, first, carry out a thorough cleaning by washing it with alcohol or soapy water with a brush and an old toothbrush. If at some point the original paint comes off remove it as much as possible, leaving only the well fixed one. In this way you will have a clear idea on the overall condition of the frame and of its most criticality.

Woodworm holes and chipping different can be replenished by mixing wood pulp and applying it with a spatula.

If you need to rebuild some missing part applied some plasticine with the fingers following summarily the form, then, when the plasticine has hardened, you can shape it with a small knife, and with some small rasps, finishing it with fine sandpaper. Touch up the paint with another of the same tone: if you can not find it you can repaint the whole frame to have a uniform color.

Repair broken glass

If the glass is broken you necessarily need to open the framing removing the back cardboard. Be careful not to break the passe-partout and not to damage the framework during the removal.

If inside the passe-partout is not properly secured or the picture wobbles, apply a few drops of silicone glue, in invisible points.
If the hanger nailing does not held before restore it fill the holes with wood filler.

Repairing a golden frame

Repairing or renewing a golden frame is a rather expensive work if it is left to a skilled artisan, that is why it is convenient to intervene on by yourself. From a technical point of view the work is not particularly difficult, and it allows you to restore the beauty of certain antique frames.

Gently remove the thin golden cover where it comes off. Under it there is a coating of red, where it is damaged it should be restored. The suitable material is a powder that you can find in art shops. It need to dissolve it in water and apply it on the frame (only where it is missing). When it is dry it looks continuous and opaque.

The gilding can be restored in two main ways. The first way relates to the application of a thin layer of metallic gold paint with a fine brush.

The second method involves the application of special gold leaves sold specifically for this purpose. These are thin sheets that can be applied after smearing the appropriate red glue on the base. The leaves should not be touched with the fingers but with tweezers and they must be pressed on the frame with a soft brush to not tear them up.

An alternative method of gilding over traditional methods is to use the appropriate spray. It is an effective system but that requires a precaution: the paint must be sprayed in rapid wipes so that it won't accumulate in the concave parts of the decoration and drip.